Welded ship



June 16, 1931.

E. E. WHEELER WEIJDED SHIP Filed Nov. 28,- 192e v 2 Sheets-sheet 1 June `16, 1931. E. B. WHEELER 1,810,097

l wELpED SHIP Filed Nov. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 tions of the frame 1, the; edge portions of y these plates seating upon member 2. By having the members 2 of rounded or circular cross section, the edg-e portions of the plates seating on this member are disposed at a tangent thereto and there is no difficulty encountered in obtaining proper contact of the plates with the frame members; I thus avoid delay in accurately fitting the plates to the frame members 2 such as would occur, in many instances, if frame members of other than round or circular cross section were employed. l

To facilitate 'application o the plates to the frame structure I employ means whereby these plates can be clamped lirmly in position during the welding operation, the 'clamping means being then removedand welding of the plates completed. In Fig. 5 I have shown a deck plate 11 and a cover or side plate 10 seated uponthe upper and the side edges, respectively, of a belt frame 1.

To hold these plates in position I weld screw studs 12 to the frame member 2 at suitable intervals. A clamping plate 13 shaped to contact the outer faces of plates 10 vand 11,

is then placed upon the stud 12 and is forced toward frame 1 and members 2 by a nut 14 screwed onto the stud. In this manner the two plates are clampedfirmly inposition andthese plates are then welded, as at 15, to the frame 1. The edges of the plates which seat upon the member 2 are then welded to this member' at 16, the welding being omitted at the clamps. The clamping plates 13 are then removed from studs-12 and these studs are chipped off of the frame member 2. The welding or.

the plates to the frame member is then completed, the plates being welded throughout the entire length thereof. In Fig. 7 I have illustrated two side plates 10 with their adjacent edges seating upon al frame member 2 and Welded thereto and to the belt frame 1. These plates l() are secured. in position, during the welding operation, by a clamping plate 17 mounted upon a screw stud 12 in the same manner as the plates 10 and 11 are held in position. The forward edges of the foremost side plates at the bow are welded to the stem 4 and may be clamped in position during the welding operation in the manner above described.

4 The lower edges of the lowermost plates are welded to the keel 3, being suitably clamped in position during the welding operation, as above. The rearward or sternmost edges of the side plates beneath the overhang are suitably fitted about the sternv post 5, certain of these plates being fitted about the bearing 8, and are welded to the stern ost.

The hull thus vproduced is relatively ight- The plates 10 are secured together at their ends by butt welding or by lap welding, as preferred. The deck plates 11 are suitably welded to frames 1 and the uppermost frame members 2, as described, and the edges of these plates are secured .together by butt welding. Preferably electric welding. is employed for securing the various elements of the trame and the plates together, though this is not essential as any suitable means of welding may be employed. v

I preferably employ belt frames l which are of substantially irregular polygonal outline and are delined by straight V4edge portions disposed in angular relation. rlFhese :trames can be fabricated atappreciably less cost than fra-mes havingfaired and curved plates to the framework ofthe hull is greatly facilitated. I do not, however, intend to limit myself to the one form of 'belt trame illustrated and described. In ,its broader aspects, my invention contemplates the use shape in conjunction with frame members secured thereto by welding and plates secured to the frames and theframe members by welding. .I also contemplate having the covering or side plates 10 of proper length to have the ends thereof` 'seatmg uponthe belt frames and welded thereto..

What I claim is:

1. In combination in a hullconstruction for ships, a keel of circular cross-section comprising the stem of the hull, a pluralit of transverse belt frames welded to the eel, longitudinal frame members shaped about the. frames and welded thereto, said members' being .of circular shape, and covering plates having their edge portions seatin upon the frame members and the keel an stem, said'plates being welded to the frames l and to the framemembers and the keel and- Stemfo'r ships, a keel of circular cross-section comprising the stem of the hull, a pluralityi of transverse belt frames, a stern post of circu- 'J'2In combination ina hull construction lar cross-section secured to the keel, longitudinal frame members of circulai", cross-see-` tion shaped about the frames andwelded z thereto and to the keel and stemVV and tbestern post, and covering plates having their edge portions seating vupon said members and upon the keel and stem and the stern post, said plates being .welded to theframes and to the frame members and the keel and stem and the stern post. y

.95 of belt frames of any suitable ;or desired 3. In combination in a hull construction for ships, a keel of circular cross-section comprising the stem of the hull, a plurality of transverse belt frames, a stern post of circu- -5 lar cross-section secured to the keel,`longitu i dinal frame members 'of circular cross-seetion shaped about the frames and Welded` thereto and to the keel and stem and the stern post, and covering plates having their edge w portions seating upon said members and upon the keel and stem and the stern post, said plates being welded to the frames and to the frame members and the keel and stem and the stern post, the keel being extended stern- ,5 Ward beyond' the stern post and shaped to rovide a. rudder pintle bearing, said post eing shaped to provide a propeller shaft f bearing and having a bearing for the rudder stock support. W 4.1m combination in a hull construction for ships, a plurality of transverse belt frames of polygonal shape, the sides of said frames being straight and flat and the frames being provided with notches at the exterior yl. angles thereof, longitudinal frame members fitting into said notches and shaped about Vand Welded to said frames, the outer portions of the frame members being rounded and substantially flush with the sides of the 33 `frames, and covering plates` seating flat against the sides of the frames and Welded thereto, the upper and lower edges of the lates seating uponi the outer faces of the rame members' and being welded thereto. s., ln Witness whereof, I' hereunto subscribe my name this 22 day of November, 1928.

EDWIN B. WHEELER. 

